The Common HVAC Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
DIY is at the heart of many peoples lives, whether it is working on a new home, renovating an old home, making up solutions on the fly on a commercial property to solve a critical issue, etc. However, when it comes to HVAC cleaning, DIY is often not the best solution. HVAC systems, while they look fairly simple at the surface, are still fairly complex systems that are sensitive, and when it comes to cleaning them, hiring professionals may be your best option, because many will make one of many common mistakes that could result in a system running at a lower efficiency, or eventually getting damaged and failing.
Having bad HVAC cleaning habits can be very costly, the following are the most common mistakes that people should avoid when it comes time for their HVAC system maintenance.
Mistake #1: Not Getting Professional Help for Your HVAC Cleaning
The biggest mistake a homeowner or business owner can make when it comes to HVAC cleaning is not relying on the training and experience of professionals. Cleaning your HVAC yourself can be fine for some things, such as filter changes, or obvious debris removal, but there are many moving parts to HVAC systems that should be checked up on by a professional to ensure they are in good condition, and that they are working at full efficiency. Ditching the professional in order to save money can end up biting you in the backside more often than not, especially with HVAC system failures being a huge expense if a full replacement needs to be done, or leaks have caused property or structural damage.
Mistake #2: Failing to Check for Mold and Debris in HVAC system
HVAC cleaning is more than just switching filters every month or few months. Visual inspections should be made of an HVAC system anytime you have a scheduled cleaning, and you need to be aware of every spot you need to be visually checking for issues. Mold and debris can build up in a lot of sections of an entire HVAC system, especially with AC units, as water and humidity can build up, settle, and start to grow mold.
Mold is very dangerous, depending on the type and the sensitivity of the building’s occupants, and if you aren’t looking for it throughout the HVAC system, you can end up with mold building up. Debris can also build up in HVAC systems, especially with duct working, mostly in the form of dust and other light particulates that can be blown around. Every scheduled HVAC cleaning should include full mold and debris checks, and professionals will always ensure the full system is checked.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Debris Covering the Outside of Units
During HVAC cleaning, debris within the HVAC system can be dangerous; it can cause damage to the units, or within the ductwork can result in particulates spreading in the air throughout the building and harming the air quality. However, the outside of HVAC units needs to be properly cared for as well.
Especially with outdoor units, having debris build up on the outside of an HVAC unit can eventually result in them making it within the unit in a storm, which then can puncture or damage key components leading to a failure, or leak that causes further damage. Always keep the outside of your HVAC systems clean from any debris that you can; it’ll help make other visual checks easy, but also help prolong the life of the protective casing of the unit, and overall unit.
Mistake #4: Using the Incorrect Filters in HVAC Units
Every HVAC unit, whether it is for heating, or cooling, is going to have some form of filter when it is moving air. These filters, some being rated as HEPA filters, are necessary in order to prevent debris from getting into HVAC units, as well as cleaning the air that gets passed through into the building. Different manufacturers will often have different sizes of filters, whether it is height and width, or thickness. Using the wrong filter on an HVAC unit can range from just making air quality slightly lower to actually causing real damage to HVAC units, so you should always use the recommended filter in your HVAC unit as per the manufacturer’s instruction manual.
Proper HVAC cleaning isn’t always hard, but in order to ensure your HVAC system is thoroughly checked, maintained, and cleaned you should always leave the work to the professionals.
